Fiber optic system for electromagnetic surveying

ABSTRACT

An electromagnetic survey sensing device includes at least two electrodes disposed at spaced apart locations. An electrical to optical converter is electrically coupled to the at least two electrodes. The converter is configured to change a property of light from a source in response to voltage imparted across the at least two electrodes. The device includes an optical fiber optically coupled to an output of the electrical to optical converter, the optical fiber in optical communication with a detector.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not applicable.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not applicable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates generally to the field of electromagneticsurveying of the Earth's subsurface. More specifically, the inventionrelates to electromagnetic survey systems including optical outputsensors to reduce effects of electromagnetic noise on signals measuredby the system.

2. Background Art

Electromagnetic geophysical surveying of the Earth's subsurface includes“controlled source” and “natural source” electromagnetic surveying.Controlled source electromagnetic surveying includes imparting anelectric field or a magnetic field into subsurface Earth formations,such formations being below the sea floor in marine surveys, andmeasuring electric field amplitude and/or amplitude of magnetic fieldsinduced in response to the imparted field. Such measurements areperformed by measuring voltage differences induced between spaced apartelectrodes, induced in antennas and/or interrogating magnetometersdisposed at the Earth's surface, or near or above the sea floor. Theelectric and/or magnetic fields from which the above measurements aremade are induced in response to the electric field and/or magnetic fieldimparted into the Earth's subsurface, as stated above, and inferencesabout the spatial distribution of electrical conductivity of the Earth'ssubsurface are made from recordings of the induced electric and/ormagnetic field measurements.

Natural source electromagnetic surveying includes deployingmulti-component ocean bottom receiver stations and by taking the ratioof perpendicular field components, one can eliminate the need to knowcharacteristics of the natural source.

Controlled source electromagnetic surveying known in the art includesimparting alternating electric current into the subsurface formations.The alternating current has one or more selected frequencies. Suchsurveying is known as frequency domain controlled source electromagnetic(f-CSEM) surveying. Another technique for electromagnetic surveying ofsubsurface Earth formations known in the art is transient controlledsource electromagnetic surveying (t-CSEM). In t-CSEM, electric currentis imparted into the Earth at the Earth's surface (or sea floor), in amanner similar to f-CSEM. The electric current may be direct current(DC). At a selected time, the electric current is switched off, switchedon, or has its polarity changed, and induced voltages and/or magneticfields are measured, typically with respect to time over a selected timeinterval, at the Earth's surface or water surface. Alternative switchingtechniques are possible. Structure of the subsurface is inferred by thetime distribution of the induced voltages and/or magnetic fields. Forexample, U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2004/232917 and U.S.Pat. No. 6,914,433 Detection of subsurface resistivity contrasts withapplication to location of fluids (Wright, et al) describes a method ofmapping subsurface resistivity contrasts by making multichanneltransient electromagnetic (MTEM) measurements on or near the Earth'ssurface using at least one source, receiving means for measuring thesystem response and at least one receiver for measuring the resultantearth response. All signals from each source-receiver pair are processedto recover the corresponding electromagnetic impulse response of theearth and such impulse responses, or any transformation of such impulseresponses, are displayed to create a subsurface representation ofresistivity contrasts. The system and method enable subsurface fluiddeposits to be located and identified and the movement of such fluids tobe monitored.

The above methods for f-CSEM and t-CSEM have been adapted for use inmarine environments. Cable based sensors have been devised for detectingelectric and/or magnetic field signals resulting from imparting electricand/or magnetic fields into formations below the bottom of a body ofwater. See, for example, U.S. Patent Application Publication No.2006/0238200 filed by Johnstad. The amplitude of electric field signalsdetected by electrodes on cables such as described in the Johnstadpublication may be on the order of fractions of a nanovolt. Accordingly,a particular consideration in the design and implementation ofelectromagnetic survey receiver systems is reducing the amount of noisethat may be induced in the signals detected by the various sensingelements in the receiver system. One example of such noise reduction isto include batteries at each of a plurality of receiver system stationswhere signal amplification devices may be located. By eliminating theneed to transmit operating power along a cable associated with thereceiver system, induced noise may be reduced. Battery power does noteliminate induced noise resulting from electrical signal telemetry incable type systems such as shown in the Johnstad publication, however,because electric current carrying such signals, representative of thevoltages and/or magnetic field amplitudes measured, may induce noise inthe measured signals.

There is a continuing need for electromagnetic survey devices thatreduce noise induced in the measured signals caused by electric powerand signal transmission along receiver cables.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An electromagnetic survey sensing device according to one aspect of theinvention includes at least two electrodes disposed at spaced apartlocations. An electrical to optical converter is electrically coupled tothe at least two electrodes. The converter is configured to change aproperty of light from a source in response to voltage imparted acrossthe at least two electrodes. The device includes an optical fiberoptically coupled to an output of the electrical to optical converter,the optical fiber in optical communication with a detector.

An electromagnetic survey system according to another aspect of theinvention includes a receiver cable having an optical fiber associatedtherewith and coupled at one end to a recording device and at anotherend to at least one electrical to optical converter. The recordingdevice includes a light source and a photodetector therein in opticalcommunication with the associated fiber. At least two electrodes aredisposed at spaced apart locations along the receiver cable. Theelectrical to optical converter is electrically coupled to the at leasttwo electrodes. The converter is configured to change a property oflight from the source in response to voltage imparted across the atleast two electrodes. The optical fiber is optically coupled to anoutput of the electrical to optical converter. The optical fiber is inoptical communication with the detector in the recording device.

A method for sensing an electromagnetic field according to anotheraspect of the invention includes exposing an electric dipole antenna tothe electromagnetic field. Voltage imparted to the antenna is conductedto an electrical device that changes a property of light impartedthereto in response to the voltage. A property of light conducted from alight source to the device and from the device to a photodetector alongan optical fiber is varied, so that a signal corresponding to thevoltage is optically communicated to the photodetector.

An electromagnetic survey system according to another aspect of theinvention includes a survey vessel configured to tow a receiver cablethrough a body of water. The system includes a receiver cable having anoptical fiber associated therewith and coupled at one end to a recordingdevice on the vessel and at another end to a plurality of opticalmagnetic field sensors disposed at spaced apart positions along thecable. The sensors are each configured to change a property of lightfrom source associated with the recording device. A signal detector isassociated with the recording device and is configured to convert thechanged property of light into a signal corresponding to a property of amagnetic field proximate each sensor.

A method for electromagnetic surveying of formations in the Earth'ssubsurface includes imparting an electromagnetic field into theformations. A magnetostrictive material is exposed to an electromagneticfield produced in response to the imparted electromagnetic field. Achange in dimension of the magnetostrictive material caused by theresponsively produced field is transferred to an optical fiber. Thetransferring causes a change in a property of light conducted from alight source to a photodetector along the optical fiber, so that asignal corresponding to the responsively produced electromagnetic fieldis optically communicated to the photodetector.

Other aspects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from thefollowing description and the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A shows an example marine electromagnetic survey system having atowed receiver cable.

FIG. 1B shows an example marine electromagnetic survey system includingan ocean bottom receiver cable.

FIG. 2A shows one example electrical to optical converter that can beused with the systems shown in FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B.

FIG. 2B shows light source and signal detection components of arecording system as in FIG. 1 that may be used with various examples ofa system according to the invention.

FIGS. 3 through 6 show other examples of devices that can change alength of an optical path in response to a voltage imparted acrosselectrodes.

FIGS. 7A and 7B shown an example of a magnetic field sensing systemusing fiber optic sensors.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

An example electromagnetic survey system is shown schematically in FIG.1A. The system shown in FIG. 1A is intended for marine use, however itwill be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the invention isequally applicable to land-based electromagnetic surveys. A surveyvessel 10 moves along the surface of a body of water 11 such as a lakeor the ocean. The vessel 10 may include equipment, shown generally at 12and referred to for convenience as a “recording system” that includesdevices (none shown separately) for applying electric current to asource cable 14 towed by the vessel, for navigating the vessel and forrecording signals detected by one or more sensors on a receiver cable16.

The source cable 14 in the present example includes two sourceelectrodes 18 disposed at spaced apart positions along the source cable14. At selected times the equipment (not shown separately) in therecording system 12 conducts electric current across the sourceelectrodes 18. Such electric current produces an electromagnetic fieldthat propagates through the water 11 and into the formations below thewater bottom 22. The particular type of current conducted across thesource electrodes 18 may be single- or multi-frequency alternatingcurrent, or various forms of switched direct current, such that eitheror both transient and frequency domain controlled source electromagneticsurveying may be performed. It should also be understood that thearrangement of source electrodes 18 shown in FIG. 1A, referred to as ahorizontal electric dipole transmitter antenna, is not the only type ofelectromagnetic transmitter that may be used with the invention. Thesource cable 14 could also tow, in addition to or in substitution of thehorizontal electric dipole transmitter antenna shown in FIG. 1A, any oneor more of a vertical electric dipole antenna, and horizontal orvertical magnetic dipole antenna. Accordingly, the source antennaconfiguration shown in FIG. 1A is not intended to limit the scope of theinvention.

In the example shown in FIG. 1A, the vessel 10 also tows a receivercable 16. The receiver cable 16 includes at least one pair of electrodes20 disposed at spaced apart positions along the receiver cable 16. Anelectric field resulting from interaction of the induced electromagneticfield in the formations below the water bottom 22 induces voltagesacross the at least one pair of electrodes 20. In the present example,the pair of electrodes 20 may be associated with an electrical tooptical converter 24 disposed at a selected position along the receivercable 16, typically, but not necessarily between the electrodes 20. Theelectrical to optical converter 24 generates an optical signal that isrelated to the voltage induced across the electrodes 20 in response tothe electromagnetic field imparted by the transmitter antenna (sourceelectrodes 18). The optical signal is transmitted along an optical fiber(see 27 in FIG. 2A) associated with the receiver cable 16 to therecording unit 12, or as will be explained below with reference to FIG.1B to a recording device.

FIG. 1B shows an arrangement similar to that of FIG. 1A, however, thereceiver cable 16A is deployed on the water bottom 22. The receivercable 16A in FIG. 1B may include at least one pair of electrodes 20A andan electrical to optical converter 24A associated therewith similar tothose shown in FIG. 1A. The receiver cable 16A in FIG. 1B may have arecording device 17 associated therewith to record signals produced bythe electrical to optical converter 24A and transmitted along an opticalfiber (see FIG. 2A) from the converter 24A to the recording device 17.During acquisition using a receiver cable on the water bottom such asshown in FIG. 1A, there is typically no direct electrical or other typeof connection between the receiver cable 16A and the recording system 12on the vessel 10, thus it is convenient to provide a recording device 17associated with the receiver cable 16A. Other than the manner ofdeployment of the receiver cable 16A, acquisition of electromagneticsignals may be similar to that explained above with reference to FIG.1A.

An example of an electrical to optical converter 24 is shown in moredetail in FIG. 2A. The electrical to optical converter 24 may include apiezoelectric element or crystal 28 that is electrically coupled to eachof the electrodes 20. When the piezoelectric element 28 is so coupled tothe electrodes 20, any voltage imparted across the pair of electrodes 20will be conducted to the piezoelectric element 28. The piezoelectricelement 28 will change shape to an extent corresponding to the voltageimparted across the electrodes 20. The piezoelectric element 28 may bein a convenient shape such as a cylinder that is configured to changediameter in response to the imparted voltage. The piezoelectric element28 may be made from piezoelectric materials having high charge constantsand high electromechanical coupling coefficients, such as lead zirconatetitanate (“PZT”), lead magnesium niobate-lead titanate (“PMN-PT”) andlead zirconate niobate-lead titanate (“PZN-PT”).

An optical interferometer, which in the present example may include anoptical coupling 26, a sensing fiber 30 and a reference fiber 32 coupledto output terminals of the optical coupling 26 may be arranged as shownin FIG. 2A. The sensing fiber 30 may be wound around the piezoelectricelement 28 such that change in dimensions of the piezoelectric element28, related to the voltage across the electrodes 20, will cause acorresponding change in the length of the sensing fiber 30. Thereference fiber 32 may be provided such that changes in ambientconditions (e.g., temperature, pressure) will substantially equallyaffect both the sensing fiber 30 and the reference fiber 32. Each of thefibers 32, 30 may be terminated at an end opposite the optical coupling26 by a mirror 39. The combination of optical elements shown in FIG. 2Amay result in a phase shift in light passing through the sensing fiber30, which when combined with light passing through the reference fiber32 may produce an optical phase shift in the first optical coupling 26.The phase information may be conducted along an optical fiber 27 to thedetection equipment (e.g. in the recording device 17 in FIG. 1B or inthe recording system 12 in FIG. 1A) where the optical phase can bedemodulated to reconstruct a signal corresponding to the impartedvoltage with respect to time.

An example of a light source and detection devices used in associationwith the recording unit (12 in FIG. 1A) or the recording device (17 inFIG. 1B) will new be explained with reference to FIG. 2B. In FIG. 2B, alight source 34 such as a laser diode may provide light at one or morewavelengths to the optical fiber 27 associated with the receiver cable(e.g., 16 in FIG. 1A). The light source 34 may be disposed in therecording system 12, if a towed receiver cable is used, or may bedisposed in the recording device (17 in FIG. 1B) if the receiver cable(e.g., 16A in FIG. 1B) is disposed on the water bottom. The output ofthe light source 34 may pass through a modulator 36 to cause the lightto be modulated, for example, to be pulsed at one or more selectedfrequencies. Output of the modulator 36 may be conducted to an opticalcoupling 42, one output of which is coupled to the optical fiber 27. Areturn tap on the optical coupling 42 may be coupled to a photodetector40, which converts the returning light into an electrical signalcorresponding to the amplitude of the light. Output of the photodetector40 may be coupled to a demodulator 38 to recover the signals from theelectrical to optical converter (e.g., 24 in FIG. 2A)

The general principle of the electrical to optical converter (24 in FIG.2A) is to convert a voltage imparted across the electrodes (20 in FIG.2A) to a corresponding change in properties of light from the source (34in FIG. 2B). The change in properties of the light caused by theconverter is such that a signal corresponding to the imparted voltagemay be optically communicated to the recording system or the recordingdevice without the need for electrical power to be transmitted along thereceiver cable either as operating power or as signal telemetry. Onetype of change in properties of the light from the source is to cause aphase shift in the light. In such examples, the phase shift is relatedto the length of an optical path along the sensing fiber and/or opticalcomponents associated with the sensing fiber. The electrical to opticalconverter elements shown in FIG. 2A, for example cause a change inlength of the optical path through the sensing fiber (30 in FIG. 2A) bychanging the fiber length corresponding to change in diameter of thepiezoelectric element (28 in FIG. 2A) as explained above.

Other examples of electrical to optical converters that can change thelength of an optical path in response to a voltage imparted across theelectrodes (20 in FIG. 2A) will now be explained with reference to FIGS.3 through 6.

In FIG. 3, the converter 24 can include a cylindrically shapedpiezoelectric element or crystal 28 as in the previous examples. Thepiezoelectric element 28 may be etched or otherwise have a feature 28Aapproximately in its longitudinal center that causes one longitudinalsegment of the piezoelectric element 28 to operate independently of theother longitudinal segment. A first sensing fiber 30A may be woundaround one longitudinal segment, and a second sensing fiber 32A may bewound around the other longitudinal segments of the piezoelectricelement 28. The sensing fibers 30A, 32A may each include a mirror 39 orsimilar reflective surface at the terminal ends thereof, and may becoupled at the opposite ends thereof to an optical coupling as in FIG.2A. The two longitudinal segments of the piezoelectric element orcrystal 28 are electrically coupled to the electrodes (20 in FIG. 2A) inopposed polarity as shown in FIG. 3. Arranged as shown in FIG. 3, onelongitudinal segment of the piezoelectric element 28 will contract indiameter and the other segment will expand in diameter when a voltage isimparted across the electrodes (20 in FIG. 2A). Therefore, one sensingfiber will increase length and the other will decrease length. When thefibers 30A, 28A change length, an interference pattern may be generatedin the optical coupling 26. The arrangement shown in FIG. 3 may thusprovide increased sensitivity because of the opposite change in lengthof each sensing fiber 30A, 28A in response to voltage imparted acrossthe electrodes (20 in FIG. 1A). The principle of the device shown inFIG. 3 may also be implemented by using two separate piezoelectricelements electrically coupled to the electrodes in opposite polarity.

Another example shown in FIG. 4 may include a sensing fiber 30 and areference fiber 32 as in the example of FIG. 2A. The example of FIG. 4may include a piezoelectric element 28A including a stack ofpiezoelectric wafers disposed proximate the terminal end of the sensingfiber 30. A collimating lens 29 may be fixed to the end of the sensingfiber 30. One side of the piezoelectric element 28A may include a mirror28B facing the lens 29. The piezoelectric element 28A is electricallycoupled to the electrodes (20 in FIG. 2A) such that a voltage impartedacross the electrodes changes the length of the piezoelectric element28A and correspondingly changes a distance between the mirror 28B andthe lens 29. Changing the foregoing distance changes the optical pathlength of the sensing fiber, and results in an interference pattern inan optical coupling 26, which is coupled to both the sensing fiber 30and the reference fiber 32. The reference fiber 32 may itself include amirror 39 at the terminal end thereof to reflect light back to theoptical coupling 26 for creating the interference patter with light fromthe sensing fiber.

Another example of an electrical to optical converter is shown in FIG. 5that is similar in operating principle to the example shown in FIG. 4.In the example of FIG. 5, a first sensing fiber 30B is arranged as partof an interferometer substantially as explained above with reference toFIG. 4 and is electrically coupled to the electrodes (20 in FIG. 2A) sothat the element 28A changes length in response to voltage impartedacross the electrodes (20 in FIG. 2A). Rather than using a referencefiber as in FIG. 4, the example of FIG. 5 includes a second sensingfiber 32B that has a collimating lens 29 at the terminal end thereof. Apiezoelectric element 28A with mirror 28B thereon, similar to thepiezoelectric element proximate the end of the first sensing fiber 30A,is disposed proximate the end of the second sensing fiber 32A. Thepiezoelectric element 28A proximate the end of the second sensing fiberis electrically coupled to the electrodes (20 in FIG. 2A) in opposedpolarity to the coupling of the element 28A proximate the first sensingfiber 30A. Thus, a voltage imparted across the electrodes (20 in FIG.2A) causes the two piezoelectric elements 28A to oppositely changelength. The optical path length of the first sensing fiber 30A changeslength in an opposite manner to the change in length of the secondsensing fiber 32A. The arrangement shown in FIG. 5 may have increasedsensitivity as compared to the arrangement shown in FIG. 4.

Another example of an electrical to optical converter is shown in FIG.6. The sensing fibers 30C, 32C forming part of an optical interferometeras in the previous examples may each include a micro electromechanicalsensing material, such as a lithium niobate etched into each fiber asshown at 40. Each etching has a mirror (not show separately) associatedtherewith. The etchings 40 may be electrically coupled proximate theends thereof to the electrodes (20 in FIG. 2A). When voltage is impartedacross the electrodes, the etchings 40 will change length, and therebymove the associated mirror. Such movement will change the optical pathlength of each fiber 30C, 32C so that an interference pattern may begenerated in the optical coupling 26.

The foregoing examples are directed to electric field sensors thatconvert voltage imparted across spaced apart electrodes into a change inoptical properties of light passed through an optical fiber. In otherexamples, described below with reference to FIG. 7A and FIG. 7B, amagnetic field resulting from imparting an electromagnetic field intothe subsurface formations may be detected using a magnetostrictivesensor associated with an optical fiber. First referring to FIG. 7A, asurvey system that is configured similarly to the system shown in FIG.1A includes a survey vessel 10 including a recording system 12 thereon.The vessel 10 tows at least one electromagnetic receiver cable 16according to the present example. The receiver cable 16 may include aplurality of spaced apart magnetostrictive sensors 24A at spaced apartpositions along the receiver cable 16. An electromagnetic field source(not shown in FIG. 7A) may be towed by the vessel 10 or by anothervessel (not shown).

The sensors 24A respond to changes in the amplitude of a magnetic fieldby changing a dimension of a magnetostrictive material. Such dimensionalchange causes a corresponding change in a dimension of an optical fiber.

Referring to FIG. 7B, a sensing fiber 32 and a reference fiber 30 formtwo arms of an interferometer. Such interferometer may operate similarlyto the example shown and explained with reference to FIG. 4, althoughsuch example is not a limit on the scope of this invention. The sensingfiber 32 may be coupled to a magnetostrictive material 132 such thanchanges in magnetic field proximate the magnetostrictive material causechange in length of the sensing fiber 32. Each of the sensing fiber 32and the reference fiber 30 may be terminated by a mirror 39. Theprinciple of such sensors is described, for example in U.S. Pat. No.4,376,248 issued to Giaollrenzi et al. Other magnetostrictivetransducers and sensing systems are described, for example, in U.S. Pat.Nos. 4,600,885; 4,653,915; 4,881,813; 4,889,986; 5,243,403; 5,305,075;5,396,166; 5,491,335; 5,986,784; 6,081,633 and 6,285,806 B1.

Electromagnetic sensing devices and systems made therewith may providemeasurements responsive to electric fields induced in the Earth'ssubsurface without the need to supply electrical power to sensingdevices and/or amplification devices, and without the need forelectrical signal telemetry. Such sensing devices and systems may havereduced sensitivity to electrical noise than conventional systems thattransmit electrical power and signal telemetry along sensing cables.

While the invention has been described with respect to a limited numberof embodiments, those skilled in the art, having benefit of thisdisclosure, will appreciate that other embodiments can be devised whichdo not depart from the scope of the invention as disclosed herein.Accordingly, the scope of the invention should be limited only by theattached claims.

1. An electromagnetic survey sensing device, comprising: at least twoelectrodes disposed at spaced apart locations; an electrical to opticalconverter electrically coupled to the at least two electrodes, theconverter configured to change a property of light from a source inresponse to voltage imparted across the at least two electrodes; and anoptical fiber optically coupled to an output of the electrical tooptical converter, the optical fiber in optical communication with adetector.
 2. The device of claim 1 wherein the electrical to opticalconverter comprises means for changing an optical path length inresponse to the voltage imparted across the at least two electrodes. 3.The device of claim 2 wherein the means for changing optical path lengthcomprises a sensing fiber wound around a piezoelectric element, thepiezoelectric element electrically coupled to the at least twoelectrodes such that the voltage causes change in shape of thepiezoelectric element.
 4. The device of claim 3 further comprising areference fiber associated with the sensing fiber.
 5. The device ofclaim 3 wherein the piezoelectric element is separated into twolongitudinal segments, each segment capable of changing shapesubstantially independently of the other segment, the segments eachelectrically coupled to the at least two electrodes in opposed polarityto the other segment, and wherein each segment includes a sensing fiberwound therearound and coupled to an optical interferometer.
 6. Thedevice of claim 2 wherein the means for changing length comprises afirst piezoelectric element electrically coupled to the at least twoelectrodes, a first mirror functionally associated with the firstpiezoelectric element and disposed proximate a first end of an opticalpath associated with the optical fiber, such that electrical actuationof the first piezoelectric element by the voltage causes correspondingchange in distance between the end of the first optical path and thefirst mirror.
 7. The device of claim 6 further comprising a secondpiezoelectric element electrically coupled to the at least twoelectrodes, a second mirror functionally associated with the secondpiezoelectric element and disposed proximate a second end of an opticalpath associated with the optical fiber, such that electrical actuationof the second piezoelectric element by the voltage causes correspondingchange in distance between the end of the second optical path and thesecond mirror opposite to the change in distance between the end of thefirst path and the first mirror.
 8. The device of claim 2 wherein themeans for changing length comprises an electric field sensitive etchingon an optical fiber and electrically coupled to the at least twoelectrodes, and a mirror functionally associated with the etching suchthat imparting voltage from the at least two electrodes to the etchingcauses movement of the associated mirror.
 9. An electromagnetic surveysystem, comprising: a receiver cable having an optical fiber associatedtherewith and coupled at one end to a recording device and at anotherend to at least one electrical to optical converter, the recordingdevice including a light source and a photodetector therein in opticalcommunication with the associated fiber; at least two electrodesdisposed at spaced apart locations along the receiver cable; theelectrical to optical converter electrically coupled to the at least twoelectrodes, the converter configured to change a property of light fromthe source in response to voltage imparted across the at least twoelectrodes; and the optical fiber optically coupled to an output of theelectrical to optical converter, the optical fiber in opticalcommunication with the detector in the recording device.
 10. The systemof claim 9 wherein the at least one electrical to optical convertercomprises means for changing an optical path length in response to thevoltage imparted across the at least two electrodes.
 11. The system ofclaim 10 wherein the means for changing optical path length comprises asensing fiber wound around a piezoelectric element, the piezoelectricelement electrically coupled to the at least two electrodes such thatthe voltage causes change in shape of the piezoelectric element.
 12. Thesystem of claim 11 further comprising a reference fiber associated withthe sensing fiber.
 13. The system of claim 11 wherein the piezoelectricelement is separated into two longitudinal segments, each segmentcapable of changing shape substantially independently of the othersegment, the segments each electrically coupled to the at least twoelectrodes in opposed polarity to the other segment, and wherein eachsegment includes a sensing fiber wound therearound and coupled to anoptical interferometer.
 14. The system of claim 10 wherein the means forchanging length comprises a first piezoelectric element electricallycoupled to the at least two electrodes, a first mirror functionallyassociated with the first piezoelectric element and disposed proximate afirst end of an optical path associated with the optical fiber, suchthat electrical actuation of the first piezoelectric element by thevoltage causes corresponding change in distance between the end of thefirst optical path and the first mirror.
 15. The system of claim 14further comprising a second piezoelectric element electrically coupledto the at least two electrodes, a second mirror functionally associatedwith the second piezoelectric element and disposed proximate a secondend of an optical path associated with the optical fiber, such thatelectrical actuation of the second piezoelectric element by the voltagecauses corresponding change in distance between the end of the secondoptical path and the second mirror opposite to the change in distancebetween the end of the first path and the first mirror.
 16. The systemof claim 10 wherein the means for changing length comprises apiezoelectric element, the piezoelectric element configured to changeshape in response to voltage applied thereto from the antenna.
 17. Thesystem of claim 10 wherein the means for changing length comprises anelectric field sensitive etching on an optical fiber and electricallycoupled to the at least two electrodes, and a mirror functionallyassociated with the etching such that imparting voltage from the atleast two electrodes to the etching causes movement of the associatedmirror.
 18. A method for sensing an electromagnetic field, comprising:exposing an electric dipole antenna to the electromagnetic field;conducting voltage imparted to the antenna to an electrical to a devicethat changes a property of light imparted thereto in response to thevoltage; changing a property of light conducted from a light source tothe device and from the device to a photodetector along an opticalfiber, so that a signal corresponding to the voltage is opticallycommunicated to the photodetector.
 19. The method of claim 18 whereinthe changing the property of light comprises causing a phase changetherein by changing a length of an optical path between the light sourceand the photodetector.
 20. The method of claim 19 wherein the changingpath length comprises changing a length of an optical fiber wound arounda piezoelectric element, the piezoelectric element configured to changeshape in response to voltage applied thereto from the antenna.
 21. Themethod of claim 19 wherein the changing path length comprises moving amirror by changing a dimension of a piezoelectric element, thepiezoelectric element configured to change shape in response to voltageapplied thereto from the antenna.
 22. The method of claim 19 wherein thechanging path length comprises moving a mirror by actuating apiezoelectric element, the piezoelectric element configured to changeshape in response to voltage applied thereto from the antenna.
 23. Themethod of claim 19 wherein the changing path length comprises impartingvoltage to an electric field sensitive etching on an optical fiber andelectrically coupled to the antenna, and moving a mirror functionallyassociated with the etching such that imparting voltage from the atleast two electrodes to the etching causes movement of the associatedmirror.
 24. An electromagnetic survey system, comprising: a surveyvessel configured to tow a receiver cable through a body of water; areceiver cable having an optical fiber associated therewith and coupledat one end to a recording device on the vessel and at another end to aplurality of optical magnetic field sensors disposed at spaced apartpositions along the cable, the sensors configured to change a propertyof light from source associated with the recording device; and a signaldetector associated with the recording device configured to convert thechanged property of light into a signal corresponding to a property of amagnetic field proximate each sensor.
 25. The system of claim 24 whereineach sensor comprises a reference optical fiber and a sensing opticalfiber, the sensing optical fiber coupled to a magnetostrictive materialsuch that dimensional change in the magnetostrictive material causescorresponding change in a length of the sensing fiber.
 26. The system ofclaim 25 wherein an end of each of the sensing fiber and the referencefiber distal from the recording system comprises a mirror coupledthereto.
 27. A method for electromagnetic surveying of formations in theEarth's subsurface, comprising: imparting an electromagnetic field intothe formations; exposing a magnetostrictive material to anelectromagnetic field produced in response to the impartedelectromagnetic field; transferring a change in dimension of themagnetostrictive material to an optical fiber to cause a change in aproperty of light conducted from a light source to a photodetector alongthe optical fiber, so that a signal corresponding to the responsivelyproduced electromagnetic field is optically communicated to thephotodetector.
 28. The method of claim 27 wherein the causing change theproperty of light comprises causing a phase change therein by changing alength of an optical path between the light source and the photodetectorin response to the change in dimension of the magnetostrictive material.